On the other side of the scale, UM is one of the larger research
universities, its facilities and administrtion  costs (FAC)
is based on modified direct costs (exclude sub contracts
over $10k, equipment - still at the $500 level but
will change to $5000 with next negotiation- and some other items.)
Fringe benefits are charged at actual rates.  Our cost reimbursement
office which monitors and negotiates the rate has 3-4  people.
We now are using a cost center approach so schools and colleges keep
their FAC and pay a central services fee (for such things
as cost of the sponsored projects office, the library
and the accounting office).  The on-campus research rate is %52.5,
other sponsored activity is 30%, off-campus research is 26%.  The
industrial rate is higher than federal at 56% because certain
facilities costs excluded from federal rates are included.  Our
research volume is about $400 million.

Bob Beattie
Division of Research Development and Administration
The University of Michigan

From: Research Administration Discussion Group on Tue, May 6, 1997 6:34 PM
>In response to Richard Chute's inquiry, our IDC rate is 53.5% of Salaries,
>Wages, and Fringe Benefits.  NSF and other federal agencies that understand
>IDC have never balked at this rate for research or considered us
>non-competitive.  A higher rate on a salaries and fringes or salaries only
>base may in many cases actually be less in real dollars than a lower rate
>that is applied to modified total direct cost base (MTDC).  We have an
>annual volume of sponsored activity of about $4 million.
>
>Barbara H. Gray                            Telephone:   803-953-5673
>Director of Sponsored Programs      Fax:            803-953-6577
>College of Charleston                     e-mail:         xxxxxx@cofc.edu
>Charleston, SC  29424
>